Could a young star be emerging as a future national prospect?
It is always fun to find new names to watch out for and Phenom Hoops had a promising prospect who has a chance to be special. With continued development, 2030 6’4 Dante Kirksey has a chance to be a big name down in South Carolina. With impressive length, feel, and skillset, Kirksey has a lot of early factors and a great feel for a player at his age. He has impressive handles and change of direction, shows promise in being able to create his own shot and break down defenders, and is an impressive three-level scorer. Watching him, you see the tools are all there; it will just be if he continues to put in the work, improves in areas, and adds more to his overall game; but again, it all there for him to be special.
Savannah Mavericks Duo Impresses with Production
A team that was fun to watch throughout the event, the duo of 2028 Kaleb Griffin and 2028 Rai Whipple put on an impressive show for a newer program on our platform. Griffin came out with another impressive showing, dropping 40 in one game and showing once again that he can get downhill and score when he wanted. Whipple added another dimension with his ability to create as well as knock down shots from the perimeter. It was fun to watch these two lead the charge on the court throughout the weekend.
Upward Stars Columbia Organization Thrives on Big Stage
Taking home three championships, Coach Savage and the Upward Stars Columbia organization proved that they are one to watch and take notice of more. Upward Stars Columbia walked away with championships in the 14u, 15u, and 16u divisions, and were quite notable in the 17u division. This program continues to shine in a big way and look to build upon an excellent weekend, and there are plenty of prospects for college coaches to check out.
Team Loaded Regional Makes a Statement in Younger Divisions
Heading down to the younger divisions, it was Team Loaded Regional taking home two championships in impressive fashion. These two groups had a ton of young talent that you may be hearing more about in the coming years, with impressive size, feel, and impact on the court. Team Loaded continues to be recognized as a premier program in the region, and it seems like the talent runs deep into the young teams.
Young and Motivated takes home 17u crown
Young and Motivated captured an impressive and hard-fought championship down in South Carolina, taking home the 17u division title. This is a group that has valuable and under-the-radar type talent that college coaches should track. 2026 Donyeh Baird, 2027 Kamden Higgins, 2028 Cam Kernes, and many others bring a ton of firepower, impact, and versatility to the court, along with a strong scoring power. This team came down to Spartanburg, competed and battled, and walked away with a championship.